PART I

TRAFFIC CONTROL

Sec. 14-297. Definitions. Terms used in this chapter shall be construed as follows, unless another construction is clearly apparent from the language or context in which the term is used or unless the construction is inconsistent with the manifest intention of the General Assembly:

(2) “Crosswalk” means that portion of a highway ordinarily included within the prolongation or connection of the lateral lines of sidewalks at intersections, or any portion of a highway distinctly indicated, by lines or other markings on the surface, as a crossing for pedestrians, except such prolonged or connecting lines from an alley across a street;

(3) “Official traffic control devices” means all signs, signals, markings and devices consistent with the provisions of this chapter and placed or erected, for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic, by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction;

(4) “Parking” means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, on a highway, except it shall not include the temporary standing of a vehicle for the purpose of and while engaged in receiving or discharging passengers or loading or unloading merchandise or while in obedience to traffic regulations or traffic signs or signals;

(5) “Traffic” means pedestrians, vehicles and other conveyances while using any highway for the purpose of travel;

(6) “Traffic authority” means the board of police commissioners of any city, town or borough, or the city or town manager, the chief of police, the superintendent of police or any legally elected or appointed official or board, or any official having similar powers and duties, of any city, town or borough that has no board of police commissioners but has a regularly appointed force, or the board of selectmen of any town in which there is no city or borough with a regularly appointed police force, except that, with respect to state highways and bridges, “traffic authority” means the Office of the State Traffic Administration, provided nothing contained in this section shall be construed to limit or detract from the jurisdiction or authority of the Office of the State Traffic Administration to adopt regulations establishing a uniform system of traffic control signals, devices, signs and markings as provided in section 14-298, and the requirement that no installation of any traffic control signal light shall be made by any city, town or borough until the installation has been approved by the Office of the State Traffic Administration as provided in section 14-299;

(7) “Traffic control sign” means any sign bearing a message with respect to the stopping or to the rate of speed of vehicles; and

(8) “Traffic control signal” means any device, whether operated manually, electrically or mechanically, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and to proceed.

Sec. 14-298. Office of the State Traffic Administration. There shall be within the Department of Transportation the Office of the State Traffic Administration, which shall constitute a successor to the State Traffic Commission, in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39. For the purpose of standardization and uniformity, said office shall adopt and cause to be printed for publication regulations establishing a uniform system of traffic control signals, devices, signs and markings consistent with the provisions of this chapter for use upon the public highways. The Commissioner of Transportation shall make known to the General Assembly the availability of such regulations and any requesting member shall be sent a written copy or electronic storage media of such regulations by said commissioner. Taking into consideration the public safety and convenience with respect to the width and character of the highways and roads affected, the density of traffic thereon and the character of such traffic, said office shall also adopt regulations, in cooperation and agreement with local traffic authorities, governing the use of state highways and roads on state-owned properties, and the operation of vehicles including but not limited to motor vehicles, as defined in section 14-1, and bicycles, as defined in section 14-286, thereon. A list of limited-access highways shall be published with such regulations and said list shall be revised and published once each year. The Commissioner of Transportation shall make known to the General Assembly the availability of such regulations and list and any requesting member shall be sent a written copy or electronic storage media of such regulations and list by the commissioner. A list of limited-access highways opened to traffic by the Commissioner of Transportation in the interim period between publications shall be maintained in the Office of the State Traffic Administration and such regulations shall apply to the use of such listed highways. Said office shall also make regulations, in cooperation and agreement with local traffic authorities, respecting the use by through truck traffic of streets and highways within the limits of, and under the jurisdiction of, any city, town or borough of this state for the protection and safety of the public. If said office determines that the prohibition of through truck traffic on any street or highway is necessary because of an immediate and imminent threat to the public health and safety and the local traffic authority is precluded for any reason from acting on such prohibition, the office, if it is not otherwise precluded from so acting, may impose such prohibition. Said office may place and maintain traffic control signals, signs, markings and other safety devices, which it deems to be in the interests of public safety, upon such highways as come within the jurisdiction of said office as set forth in section 14-297. The traffic authority of any city, town or borough may place and maintain traffic control signals, signs, markings and other safety devices upon the highways under its jurisdiction, and all such signals, devices, signs and markings shall conform to the regulations established by said office in accordance with this chapter, and such traffic authority shall, with respect to traffic control signals, conform to the provisions of section 14-299.

History: 1967 act added provisions re regulations governing use of state highways and roads on state-owned properties and re list of limited access highways; 1969 act replaced highway commissioner with commissioner of transportation; P.A. 77-375 added reference to role of local traffic authorities in adoption of regulations and specifically referred to regulations re operation of vehicles “not limited to motor vehicles” and of bicycles; P.A. 77-614 placed state traffic commission in department of transportation and changed membership to include commissioner of public safety rather than commissioner of motor vehicles, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-303 restored membership of commissioner of motor vehicles and deleted reference to no longer existing commissioner of state police; P.A. 84-429 made technical changes for statutory consistency; P.A. 88-242 added provisions authorizing the state traffic commission to prohibit through truck traffic in certain cases involving an immediate and imminent threat to public health and safety; P.A. 98-222 added a requirement that the commissioner notify the General Assembly that the regulations establishing a uniform system of traffic control signals and the list of limited-access highways are available upon request in a written format or as electronic storage; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, “Commissioner of Public Safety” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection”, effective July 1, 2011; Oct. Sp. Sess. P.A. 11-1 added provision making Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, or his or her designee, a member of commission when commission discusses and votes on any matter re an economic development project, and made technical changes, effective October 27, 2011; P.A. 12-132 replaced provisions re State Traffic Commission with provisions re Office of the State Traffic Administration, effective July 1, 2012.

Court may take judicial notice of State Traffic Commission regulations. 133 C. 453. Cited. 134 C. 636; 181 C. 114. Uniform Administrative Procedure Act not applicable to regulations under statute which are not of general applicability; distinction between regulations within and without the purview of that act discussed. 183 C. 313. Legislature reserved to State Traffic Commission the ultimate authority to regulate through truck traffic. 203 C. 267.

Sec. 14-298a. Operation of motor vehicle exceeding posted clearance or load prohibited. No person shall operate or move a motor vehicle over, on, through, or under any bridge or structure on any highway if the height of such vehicle or the load exceeds the height of the posted clearance or load, as shown by an official traffic control device, as defined in section 14-297. Any person violating any provision of this section shall have committed an infraction.

Sec. 14-299. Traffic control signals. Right turn on red. (a) For the purpose of standardization and uniformity, no installation of any traffic control signal light shall be made by any town, city or borough until the same has been approved by the Office of the State Traffic Administration. Such approval shall be based on necessity for, location of and type of such signal light and shall be applied for on a form supplied by the Office of the State Traffic Administration and shall be submitted to said office by the traffic authority having jurisdiction. Approval of any such signal light may be revoked by the Office of the State Traffic Administration at any time if said office deems such revocation to be in the interest of public safety, and thereupon such signal lights shall be removed by the traffic authority having jurisdiction.

(b) When traffic at an intersection is alternately directed to proceed and to stop by the use of signals exhibiting colored lights or lighted arrows, successively one at a time or in combination, only the colors green, red and yellow shall be used, except for special pedestrian control signals carrying word legends, said lights shall apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians and shall indicate the following:

(1) Circular green alone: Vehicular traffic facing a green signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign or marking at such place prohibits either such turn or straight through movement, except that such traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and vehicles lawfully within a crosswalk or the intersection at the time such signal was exhibited; pedestrians facing the green signal, except when directed by separate pedestrian-control signals, may proceed across the highway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.

(2) Yellow: Vehicular traffic facing a steady yellow signal is thereby warned that the related green movement is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter, when vehicular traffic shall stop before entering the intersection unless so close to the intersection that a stop cannot be made in safety; pedestrians facing a steady yellow signal, except when directed by separate pedestrian-control signals, are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway before a red indication is shown and no pedestrian shall then start to cross the roadway.

(3) Red alone: Vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal alone shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection and remain standing until the next indication is shown; provided, on or after July 1, 1979, vehicular traffic traveling in the travel lane nearest the right hand curb or other defined edge of the roadway, unless a sign approved by the Office of the State Traffic Administration has been erected in the appropriate place prohibiting this movement, may cautiously enter the intersection to make a right turn onto a two-way street or onto another one-way street on which all the traffic is moving to such vehicle’s right after such vehicle has stopped as required in this subdivision and yielded the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection. Pedestrians facing a steady red signal alone, except when directed by separate pedestrian-control signals, shall not enter the roadway.

(4) Green arrow: Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in combination with another indication, may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other indications shown at the same time, but such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within a crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully within the intersection.

(5) Whenever special pedestrian-control signals exhibiting the words “Walk” or “Don’t Walk” are in place such signals shall indicate as follows: “Walk”: Pedestrians facing such signals may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal and shall be given the right-of-way by the drivers of all vehicles; “Don’t Walk”: No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of such signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed his crossing on the walk signal shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety island while the “Don’t Walk” signal is showing.

(c) When an illuminated flashing red or yellow signal is used in a traffic sign or signal, it shall require obedience by vehicular traffic as follows:

(1) Flashing red: When a red lens is illuminated by rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection, or at a limit line when marked or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and the right to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.

(2) When a yellow lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles facing such signal may proceed through the intersection or past such signal only with caution.

(d) Lenses of the following colors only shall be used and shall be arranged vertically in the signal face or, when necessary, horizontally, and shall conform to the following positions: When arranged vertically, red shall be located at the top, yellow shall be located directly below red and the remaining indications below the yellow in the following order: Flashing yellow, circular green, vertical arrow, left-turn arrow and right-turn arrow, as needed; when arranged horizontally, red shall be located at the left, yellow shall be located directly to the right of red and the remaining indications to the right of yellow in the following order: Flashing yellow, left-turn arrow, circular green, vertical arrow and right-turn arrow, as needed.

(e) When lane-direction-control signals are placed over the individual lanes of a street or highway, vehicular traffic may travel in any lane over which a green arrow signal is shown, but shall not enter or travel in any lane over which a red X signal is shown.

(f) If a traffic control signal, approved by the Office of the State Traffic Administration, is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of this section shall be applicable except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application. Any stop required shall be made at a sign or marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made, but in the absence of any sign or marking the stop shall be made at the signal.

History: 1967 act restated provisions of Subsecs. (b) to (d) and added Subsecs. (e) and (f); P.A. 75-297 added provisions in Subsec. (b)(3) re right turns on red; P.A. 78-309 revised and amplified Subsec. (b)(3) and changed emphasis by allowing right turn on red unless sign prohibits it, whereas previously turn allowed only where sign permitted it; P.A. 12-132 amended Subsecs. (a) and (f) by replacing references to State Traffic Commission with references to Office of the State Traffic Administration and amended Subsec. (b)(3) by deleting provisions re review and erection of signs by June 30, 1979, and making a conforming change, effective July 1, 2012.

See Sec. 14-111g re operator’s retraining program.

Cited. 181 C. 515.

Cited. 2 CA 523, 525.

Duty of operator approaching intersection where traffic light is red. 3 CS 177. That stop sign was obscured from view by large truck not justification for failure to stop. 6 CS 264. All silent policemen or stanchions are obstructions in the highway, but they are not nuisances. 15 CS 93.

Subsec. (a):

Cited. 2 CA 523, 525.

Cited. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 333; 6 Conn. Cir. Ct. 335, 452.

Subsec. (b):

The provisions of Subsec. are subject to the specific exceptions created by the express provisions of Sec. 14-283. 114 C. 406. Right-of-way and duty of driver approaching green light. Id., 640. Cited. 119 C. 267; 122 C. 518. When street marking and green arrow create separate lanes; right to proceed in right-hand lane. Id., 520. Cited. 124 C. 688; 125 C. 38; 149 C. 61. A driver when faced with a green light at an intersection must act as a reasonably prudent person with a knowledge that he cannot proceed in disregard of other vehicles in the intersection. 165 C. 422. A duty of reasonable safety is placed on a driver who wishes to turn left; a driver facing a green light may have a higher standard of care as he is required to yield to certain vehicles that constitute an imminent hazard. Id. Cited. 170 C. 490.

Sec. 14-299a. Traffic signal preemption devices. (a) As used in this section, “traffic signal preemption device” means a device capable of altering the timing or phasing of a traffic control signal.

(b) No person shall use a traffic signal preemption device unless such person, in furtherance of such person’s duties, is (1) installing or maintaining a traffic control signal; (2) operating railroad equipment or a movable bridge; (3) operating a transit vehicle on behalf of the Department of Transportation; (4) operating a motor vehicle owned by the federal or state government, a municipal government or fire district in responding to an emergency; or (5) operating an ambulance in responding to an emergency. No traffic signal preemption device shall be in, or part of, a motor vehicle unless (A) the motor vehicle is owned or controlled by the federal or state government, a municipal government or fire district, (B) the motor vehicle is an ambulance, or (C) such vehicle is being used in the course of manufacturing, transporting, installing or maintaining such a device.

(c) No person shall possess a traffic signal preemption device unless such person is a manufacturer specializing in the manufacture of such devices, a vendor authorized by a manufacturer specializing in the manufacture of such devices or a repairer of such devices.

(d) No person shall sell or transfer possession of a traffic signal preemption device unless (1) such person is a manufacturer specializing in the manufacture of such devices, a vendor authorized by a manufacturer specializing in the manufacture of such devices or a repairer of such devices, and (2) such sale or transfer of possession is to the federal or state government, a municipal government or fire district, ambulance operator or to a vendor or repairer of such devices.

(e) Any person who violates any provision of subsection (b), (c) or (d) of this section shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than three months, or both.

(f) Any person who violates any provision of subsection (b) of this section which violation results in a traffic accident shall be fined not more than fifteen thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

Sec. 14-300. Crosswalks. Pedestrian-control signals. Regulation of pedestrians and motor vehicles at crosswalks. Pedestrians who are blind or have guide dogs. (a) The traffic authority shall have power to designate, by appropriate official traffic control devices, as defined in section 14-297, or markers, or by lines upon the surface of the highway, such crosswalks and intersections as, in its opinion, constitute a danger to pedestrians crossing the highway including, but not limited to, specially marked crosswalks in the vicinity of schools, which crosswalks shall have distinctive markings, in accordance with the regulations of the Office of the State Traffic Administration, to denote use of such crosswalks by school children; and may maintain suitable signs located at intervals along highways, particularly where there are no sidewalks, directing pedestrians to walk facing vehicular traffic.

(b) At any intersection where special pedestrian-control signals bearing the words “Walk” or “Don’t Walk” are placed, pedestrians may cross the highway only as indicated by the signal. At any intersection where traffic is controlled by other traffic control signals or by police officers, pedestrians shall not cross the highway against a red or “Stop” signal and shall not cross at any place not a marked or unmarked crosswalk. A pedestrian started or starting across the highway on a “Walk” signal or on any such crosswalk on a green or “Go” signal shall have the right-of-way over all vehicles, including those making turns, until such pedestrian has reached the opposite curb or safety zone.

(c) Except as provided in subsection (c) of section 14-300c, at any crosswalk marked as provided in subsection (a) of this section or any unmarked crosswalk, provided such crosswalks are not controlled by police officers or traffic control signals, each operator of a vehicle shall grant the right-of-way, and slow or stop such vehicle if necessary to so grant the right-of-way, to any pedestrian crossing the roadway within such crosswalk, provided such pedestrian steps off the curb or into the crosswalk at the entrance to a crosswalk or is within that half of the roadway upon which such operator of a vehicle is traveling, or such pedestrian steps off the curb or into the crosswalk at the entrance to a crosswalk or is crossing the roadway within such crosswalk from that half of the roadway upon which such operator is not traveling. No operator of a vehicle approaching from the rear shall overtake and pass any vehicle, the operator of which has stopped at any crosswalk marked as provided in subsection (a) of this section or any unmarked crosswalk to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway. The operator of any vehicle crossing a sidewalk shall yield the right-of-way to each pedestrian and all other traffic upon such sidewalk.

(d) The operator of a motor vehicle who approaches or comes into the immediate vicinity of a pedestrian who is blind, as defined in subsection (a) of section 1-1f, carrying a white cane or a white cane tipped with red, or a pedestrian being guided by a guide dog, shall reduce speed or stop, if necessary, to yield the right-of-way to such pedestrian. No person, except one who is blind, shall carry or use on any street or highway, or in any other public place, a cane or walking stick which is white in color or white, tipped with red.

(e) Any crosswalk designated by a traffic authority on or after October 1, 2010, pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be required by such authority to have markings, signage, or any control signals deemed necessary by such authority to provide sufficient time for the safe crossing of pedestrians.

(f) The operator of any motor vehicle who violates this section shall be deemed to have committed an infraction and be fined ninety dollars.

(g) In any civil action arising under subsection (c) or (d) of this section or sections 14-300b to 14-300d, inclusive, the doctrine of negligence per se shall not apply.

History: 1967 act made special reference to specially marked crosswalks near schools in Subsec. (a); P.A. 78-309 added Subsecs. (c) and (d); P.A. 94-189 amended Subsec. (c) by changing “yield” to “grant”, making the section also applicable to a pedestrian who “steps to the curb at the entrance to a crosswalk” and deleting the requirement that such pedestrian should be “approaching at such a rate of speed or has approached so near to that half of the roadway upon which such operator is traveling so as to be in reasonable danger of being struck by the vehicle of such operator”, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 00-196 made a technical change; P.A. 07-167 amended Subsec. (c) by replacing “steps to the curb” with “steps off the curb or into the crosswalk”, making infraction applicable to “The operator of any motor vehicle who violates this section”, rather than “A violation of this subsection”, and specifying a fine of $90, effective July 1, 2007; P.A. 08-150 amended Subsec. (c) to delete penalty provision, reflecting its reenactment as new Subsec. (e), added new Subsec. (d) requiring motor vehicle operator to yield right-of-way to pedestrian who is blind carrying a white cane or white cane tipped with red or being guided by a guide dog and prohibiting a person who is not blind from carrying or using a cane or walking stick white in color or white, tipped in red, added new Subsec. (e) re penalty, formerly part of Subsec. (c), and redesignated existing Subsec. (d) as new Subsec. (f) and amended same to add reference to new Subsec. (d); P.A. 10-159 amended Subsec. (a) to substitute “official traffic control devices” for “devices” and make technical changes, made technical changes in Subsec. (c), inserted new Subsec. (e) requiring crosswalks designated on or after October 1, 2010, to have necessary markings, signage or control signals to provide sufficient time for safe crossing of pedestrians and redesignated existing Subsecs. (e) and (f) as Subsecs. (f) and (g); P.A. 12-132 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “State Traffic Commission” with “Office of the State Traffic Administration”, effective July 1, 2012.

See Sec. 53-182 re penalties for infractions committed by pedestrians.

Subsec. (a):

What lines constitute compliance with section. 126 C. 527.

Subsec. (b):

Cited. 125 C. 223. Rule for pedestrians crossing from one curb to the other; not applicable to one marooned in middle of street when the light changed. 127 C. 160. Cited. Id., 301. Pedestrian crossing with light could not be found guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law. 130 C. 614. Cited. 133 C. 581; 138 C. 81. A pedestrian who has the right of way is not justified in being oblivious to the circumstances and failing to exercise care commensurate with the situation. 142 C. 385. Cited. 146 C. 210. Violation constitutes negligence per se. 147 C. 644. Cited. 149 C. 61. Statute not applicable where evidence did not show that decedent was on or near crosswalk until bus had nearly completed its turn. 151 C. 14. Statutory right-of-way to pedestrians at crosswalks limited to crosswalks on public highways. 163 C. 365.

Legislature intended to make it possible for the pedestrian to cross and to be protected while crossing. 5 CS 133. A pedestrian desiring to cross a street upon a crosswalk at a street intersection where traffic is controlled by traffic light may rely solely upon the assumption that other traffic will obey such lights. 10 CS 413.

Stoplights and flashers on school bus not the type of signals specified in Subsec. 2 Conn. Cir. Ct. 214.

Sec. 14-300a. Pedestrian street markings near housing projects for elderly persons. The Office of the State Traffic Administration and each municipal traffic authority shall, on highways under their respective jurisdictions and subject to the provisions of section 14-298, provide special pedestrian street or sidewalk markings at intersections and streets in proximity to projects designated for or containing a high proportion of elderly persons.

Sec. 14-300b. Pedestrian use of crosswalks and roadways. (a) Each pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a crosswalk marked as provided in subsection (a) of section 14-300 or any unmarked crosswalk or at a location controlled by police officers shall yield the right of way to each vehicle upon such roadway. Each pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield the right-of-way to each vehicle upon such roadway.

(b) No pedestrian shall cross a roadway intersection diagonally unless authorized by a pedestrian-control signal or police officer. When authorized by a pedestrian-control signal or police officer to cross an intersection diagonally each pedestrian shall cross only in accordance with such signals or as directed by such police officer. No pedestrian shall cross a roadway between adjacent intersections at which traffic or pedestrian-control signals are in operation except within a marked crosswalk.

(c) Each pedestrian crossing a roadway within a crosswalk shall travel whenever practicable upon the right half of such crosswalk.

(d) A violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction.

Sec. 14-300c. Pedestrian use of roads and sidewalks. Required to yield to emergency vehicle. (a) No pedestrian shall walk along and upon a roadway where a sidewalk adjacent to such roadway is provided and the use thereof is practicable. Where a sidewalk is not provided adjacent to a roadway each pedestrian walking along and upon such roadway shall walk only on the shoulder thereof and as far as practicable from the edge of such roadway. Where neither a sidewalk nor a shoulder adjacent to a roadway is provided each pedestrian walking along and upon such roadway shall walk as near as practicable to an outside edge of such roadway and if such roadway carries motor vehicle traffic traveling in opposite directions each pedestrian walking along and upon such roadway shall walk only upon the left side of such roadway.

(b) No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb, sidewalk, crosswalk or any other place of safety adjacent to or upon a roadway and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close to such pedestrian as to constitute an immediate hazard to such pedestrian. No pedestrian who is under the influence of alcohol or any drug to a degree which renders himself a hazard shall walk or stand upon any part of a roadway.

(c) Each pedestrian shall yield the right-of-way to any authorized emergency vehicle, as defined by section 14-1, approaching such pedestrian and emitting any audible signal or displaying or making any visual signal reasonably indicating that such vehicle is being operated in an emergency situation. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to relieve the driver of such an authorized emergency vehicle from any duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway or from the duty to exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian.

(d) Except as provided by sections 14-299, 14-300, and 14-300b to 14-300e, inclusive, each pedestrian upon a roadway shall yield the right-of-way to each vehicle upon such roadway.

(e) A violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction.

(P.A. 78-309, S. 4; P.A. 84-429, S. 68.)

History: P.A. 84-429 substituted reference to Sec. 14-1 for reference to Sec. 14-1a, repealed in the same act.

Sec. 14-300d. Operator of a vehicle required to exercise due care to avoid pedestrian. Notwithstanding any provisions of the general statutes or any regulations issued thereunder, sections 14-299, 14-300, 14-300b to 14-300e, inclusive, or any local ordinance to the contrary, each operator of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian or person propelling a human powered vehicle and shall give a reasonable warning by sounding a horn or other lawful noise emitting device to avoid a collision. A violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction.

Sec. 14-300e. Application of pedestrian rights to solicitation of rides in a motor vehicle and walking on limited access highways. Nothing contained in sections 14-299, 14-300 or 14-300b to 14-300d, inclusive, shall be construed to limit the provisions of section 53-181 or to permit any pedestrian to walk upon or along any highway where pedestrians are prohibited by any provision of the general statutes or any regulations issued thereunder.

Sec. 14-300f. Vehicles to stop for school crossing guard. Penalties. (a) The operator of any motor vehicle shall immediately bring his vehicle to a stop not less than ten feet from a location having a school crossing guard on any highway or private road when such school crossing guard specifically directs him to do so. Any motor vehicle so stopped for a school crossing guard shall not proceed until there is specific direction from the school crossing guard.

(b) Any person who violates any provision of subsection (a) of this section shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars for the first offense and, for each subsequent offense, not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days or both.

Sec. 14-300g. Operation of golf carts. Equipment. Insurance. (a) The traffic authority of any city, town or borough is authorized to permit the operation of golf carts, during daylight hours only, on any street or highway within the limits of, and under the jurisdiction of, such traffic authority, provided: (1) Each such golf cart shall be equipped with an operable horn in accordance with the requirements of subsection (e) of section 14-80; (2) each such golf cart shall be equipped with a flag that is positioned to assist operators of motor vehicles in observing the location and operation of such golf cart; (3) no such authorization shall be granted for operation on any street or highway the posted speed limit of which is more than twenty-five miles per hour; and (4) the operator of any such golf cart shall carry a valid Connecticut motor vehicle operator’s license while operating such golf cart. Any person who operates a golf cart in violation of any provision of this subsection, any insurance requirement established in accordance with subsection (b) of this section, or any other conditions or limitations established by the traffic authority for the operation of golf carts shall have committed an infraction.

(b) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may establish, by regulations adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, insurance requirements for the operation of golf carts in accordance with subsection (a) of this section.

Sec. 14-301. Through ways. Stop signs. (a) The Office of the State Traffic Administration may designate any state highway or part thereof or any bridge upon any such highway as a through way, and may, after notice, revoke any such designation. The traffic authority of any town, city or borough may designate any highway or part thereof under the control of such town, city or borough as a through way, and may, after notice, revoke any such designation.

(b) No designation of a through way shall become effective as to regulation of traffic at any intersection thereon until the Office of the State Traffic Administration or such other traffic authority has caused signs to be erected at such intersections. Each such sign shall bear the word “stop”, which shall be self-illuminated at night or so placed as to be illuminated by street lights or by headlights of approaching motor vehicles, and each such sign shall be located as near as practicable to the traveled portion of the highway at the entrance to which the stop is to be made, or at the nearest line of the crosswalk thereat, and shall be clearly visible for a distance of one hundred feet along the street intersecting the through way.

(c) The driver of a vehicle shall stop in obedience to a stop sign at such clearly marked stop line or lines as may be established by the traffic authority having jurisdiction or, in the absence of such line or lines, shall stop in obedience to a stop sign at the entrance to a through highway and shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles not so obliged to stop which are within the intersection or approaching so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard.

(d) Nothing herein contained shall prevent said office or such traffic authority from erecting such stop signs on all corners of any intersection within its jurisdiction, and thereafter the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, relating to the stopping of motor vehicles and the right-of-way within such intersection, shall apply to the operation of motor vehicles on each of the intersecting streets.

(e) The driver of a vehicle shall stop in obedience to a stop sign at a railroad crossing erected and maintained on the highway by requirement of the Commissioner of Transportation or the Office of the State Traffic Administration.

History: 1959 act amended Subsec. (c) by adding requirement of stopping at stop lines; 1963 act added Subsec. (e); 1971 act deleted clause in Subsec. (c) allowing drivers having once yielded right-of-way to proceed and requiring others approaching to yield to them; P.A. 75-486 replaced public utilities commission with public utilities control authority in Subsec. (e); P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 replaced public utilities control authority with commissioner of transportation, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 12-132 replaced references to State Traffic Commission with references to Office of the State Traffic Administration, effective July 1, 2012.

See Sec. 14-111g re operator’s retraining program.

Subsec. (e):

See Sec. 14-249 re stopping at grade crossings.

Purpose of former statute accomplished by a stop at a stop sign. 116 C. 599; 117 C. 551. Stopping at stop sign not sufficient, as sign may be considerable distance from traveled portion of through street; where no reasonably observable property line, statute inoperative to impose obligation to stop. 127 C. 234. Statute places no duty upon traffic authority to erect sign of any particular type or legible for any particular distance, but, if there is sign legible for one hundred feet, duties upon driver of car arise. Id. Operator of vehicle approaching from right who complies with stop regulation has superior right-of-way if vehicles arrive at intersection at approximately same time. 130 C. 400. Cited. 131 C. 79. Whether placing of stop sign complies with statute is question of fact for jury. Id., 165. Right-of-way of driver entering through street. 133 C. 455. Where visibility is obscured at required stopping point, statute imposes no duty to make second stop. Id., 724. Failure of defendant to stop at a stop line was negligence. 139 C. 223. Error where court charged, in effect, that car disregarding stop sign at intersection might have right-of-way over car making left turn. 151 C. 199. Charge, “once operator from right has complied with stop sign regulation, he has superior right-of-way if vehicles arrived at intersection at approximately same time”, was erroneous. Id., 221. The word “entrance” does not require a special definition when a jury is charged. 160 C. 480. Cited. 163 C. 279.

Cited. 29 CA 791.

Cited. 24 CS 375; 26 CS 184.

Subsec. (c):

Subsec. explained. 165 C. 635. Cited. 170 C. 583.

Cited. 16 CA 272.

The judge’s charge as to statute if read in its entirety was accurate in law, adapted to the issues and sufficient as a guide to the jury. 5 Conn. Cir. Ct. 164.

Sec. 14-302. “Yield” signs. The Office of the State Traffic Administration, on any state highway, or a local traffic authority, on any highway under its control, may designate intersections at which signs bearing the words “Yield” may be erected. The driver of a vehicle approaching a “Yield” sign shall, in obedience to such sign, slow down to a speed reasonable for the existing conditions, and shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another highway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time such driver is moving across or within the intersection, provided, if such driver is involved in a collision, such collision shall be deemed prima facie evidence of such driver’s failure to yield the right-of-way.

History: 1965 act deleted reference to state aid highway, words “right-of-way” after “Yield” and provision specifying application of collision proviso was to collisions with pedestrians or other vehicles, and changed driver’s duty on approaching sign from slowing to 10 miles per hour and yielding so as to avoid collision to slowing to reasonable speed so as to avoid hazard; P.A. 12-132 replaced “State Traffic Commission” with “Office of the State Traffic Administration”, effective July 1, 2012.

Sec. 14-303. Designation of one-way streets. Subject to the provisions of this chapter, the traffic authority shall have power to designate streets as one-way streets and to place and maintain on each street intersecting a street designated as a one-way street, at or near the property line of such one-way street, appropriate signs upon or in the street; such signs, devices or marks to bear the word “one-way” with an arrow pointing in the direction that all vehicular traffic shall travel when using such designated one-way street. No person shall operate or drive any vehicle upon or through any one-way street contrary to the directions as indicated by such signs, devices or marks established under the provisions of this section.

Sec. 14-305. Bus stops and public service motor vehicle stands. (a) The traffic authority shall have power to establish bus stops with the approval of the Department of Transportation. The traffic authority shall also have the power to establish stands for other motor vehicles used for the transportation of passengers for hire and designate the same by appropriate signs and markings.

(b) No person other than an operator of a motor vehicle used for the transportation of passengers for hire shall park any vehicle in any officially designated public service motor vehicle stand, and no operator of any such motor vehicle shall park such vehicle upon any highway in any business district at any place other than a public service motor vehicle stand; but this provision shall not prevent the operator of any such motor vehicle from temporarily stopping such vehicle in accordance with parking regulations at any place for the purpose of and while actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers.

History: P.A. 75-486 replaced public utilities commission with public utilities control authority; P.A. 77-614 replaced authority with division of public utility control within the department of business regulation, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-482 gave division of public utility control department status and deleted reference to abolished department of business regulation; P.A. 84-20 amended Subsec. (a) to transfer power to approve establishment of bus stops from public utility control department to transportation department; P.A. 90-263 substituted “motor vehicles used for the transportation of passengers for hire” for “public service motor vehicle”.

Sec. 14-306. Taxi stands in front of hotels. The traffic authority of any city or town is authorized to establish a public taxi stand in connection with any hotel within the limits of such city or town and may, with the approval of the owner or lessee of such hotel, limit the use of such public taxi stand to cabs of a company to be designated by such owner or lessee.

Sec. 14-307. Parking restrictions. Regulations. (a) The traffic authority of any city, town or borough shall have power to prohibit, limit or restrict the parking of vehicles and to erect and maintain signs in each block designating the time or terms of such prohibition or restriction on any highway or thoroughfare coming under the jurisdiction of such city, town or borough and such traffic authority may remove from state highways, except limited access highways, within the territorial limits of such city, town or borough any vehicles parked in violation of any regulation of the Office of the State Traffic Administration established in accordance with subsection (b) of this section and of any rule, regulation, order or ordinance of any such city, town or borough relative to or in connection with parking on such highway. Such removal shall be undertaken in accordance with the procedures employed by the city, town or borough in the removal of vehicles from any highway or thoroughfare coming under the jurisdiction of such city, town or borough. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to establish procedures for the removal of such vehicles by such traffic authority and for the storage of such vehicles. The regulations shall, at a minimum, (1) require that such traffic authority provide written notice by certified mail to the owner of any vehicle removed, (2) provide any such owner with an opportunity for a hearing before a hearing officer appointed by the chief executive officer of each city, town or borough and specify procedures for the holding of such hearing, (3) provide that the owner or keeper of any garage or other place where any such vehicle is stored shall have a lien on the vehicle for his storage charges, and (4) specify procedures for the sale at public auction of any vehicle placed in storage which is not claimed within a specified period of time by the owner thereof.

(b) The Office of the State Traffic Administration shall have power to prohibit, limit or restrict the parking of vehicles on any portion of any state highway or on any bridge on any such highway and to erect and maintain signs designating the terms of such prohibition or restriction.

(c) No person shall park any vehicle in any place where parking is prohibited or park any vehicle for a longer period than that indicated as lawful by any sign erected and maintained in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, except: (1) A person operating an armored car vehicle may, while in the performance of such person’s duties, park for a period not to exceed ten minutes in a place where parking is prohibited, provided such vehicle does not obstruct or impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, or (2) a vehicle displaying a special license plate or a removable windshield placard issued pursuant to section 14-253a or by authorities of other states or countries for the purpose of identifying vehicles permitted to utilize parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities which limit or impair their ability to walk or blind persons, may park in an area where parking is legally permissible, for an unlimited period of time without penalty, notwithstanding the period of time indicated as lawful by any (A) parking meter, or (B) sign erected and maintained in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

Sec. 14-309. Approval of traffic safety measures and traffic control devices, signs or markings. Approval of related municipal regulation or ordinance. No traffic safety measure or traffic control device, sign or marking shall be installed or maintained on any state highway or on any bridge on any such highway or within the right-of-way of any such highway or bridge by the traffic authority of any town, city or borough, except by consent and written approval of the Office of the State Traffic Administration. No rule, regulation, order or ordinance of any town, city or borough relative to or in connection with such safety measure or traffic control device, sign or marking on any such highway or bridge, or within the right-of-way of any such highway or bridge, shall take effect until approved in writing by said office or be effective after such approval has been revoked. Approval of any such traffic control measure may be revoked by said office at any time, if it deems such revocation to be in the interest of public safety.

(1949 Rev., S. 2527; P.A. 12-132, S. 35.)

History: P.A. 12-132 replaced references to State Traffic Commission with references to Office of the State Traffic Administration, effective July 1, 2012.

Sec. 14-310. Fraudulent or obstructive signs and signals. (a) No person, firm or corporation shall place, maintain or display upon or in view from any highway any unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device which purports to be or is in imitation of or resembles an official traffic control device or railroad sign or signal, or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal and no person, firm or corporation shall place or maintain, nor shall any public authority permit, upon any highway any traffic sign or signal bearing thereon any commercial advertising.

(b) The traffic authority having jurisdiction over any such highway is authorized, without notice, to cause any such prohibited sign, signal or marking to be removed as a public nuisance.

Sec. 14-311. Open air theaters, shopping centers and certain other developments affecting state highway traffic. (a) No person, firm, corporation, state agency, or municipal agency or combination thereof shall build, expand, establish or operate any open air theater, shopping center or other development generating large volumes of traffic that substantially affect state highway traffic within this state, as determined by the Office of the State Traffic Administration, until such person, firm, corporation, or agency has procured from said office a certificate that the operation thereof will not imperil the safety of the public, except that any development, including any development to be built in phases, without regard to when such phases are approved by the municipal planning and zoning agency or other responsible municipal agency, that contains a total of one hundred or fewer residential units shall not be required to obtain such certificate if such development is a residential-only development and is not part of a mixed-use development that contains office, retail or other such nonresidential uses, provided if any future development increases the total number of residential units to more than one hundred, and such total substantially affects state highway traffic within the state as determined by the Office of the State Traffic Administration, a certificate shall be procured from said office.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, no local building official shall issue a building or foundation permit to any person, firm, corporation, state agency or municipal agency to build, expand, establish or operate such a development until the person, firm, corporation or agency provides to such official a copy of the certificate issued under this section by the office. If the office determines that any person, firm, corporation, or state or municipal agency has (1) started building, expanding, establishing or operating such a development without first obtaining a certificate from said office, or (2) has failed to comply with the conditions of such a certificate, it shall order the person, firm, corporation or agency to (A) cease constructing, expanding, establishing or operating the development, or (B) comply with the conditions of the certificate within a reasonable period of time. If such person, firm, corporation or agency fails to (i) cease such work, or (ii) comply with an order of the office within such time as specified by the office, the office may make an application to the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district where the development is located enjoining the construction, expansion, establishment or operation of such development. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, for single family home building lots within a subdivision of land, for which a certificate is required and which do not have a direct exit or entrance on, or directly abut or adjoin any state highway, no local building official shall issue a certificate of occupancy to any person, firm, corporation, state agency or municipal agency to occupy homes on such lots until the person, firm, corporation or agency provides to such official a copy of the certificate issued under this section by the office and such official confirms that the certificate conditions have been satisfied.

(c) The Office of the State Traffic Administration, to the extent practicable, shall begin its review of an application prior to final approval of the proposed activity by the municipal planning and zoning agency or other responsible municipal agency.

(d) In determining the advisability of such certification, the Office of the State Traffic Administration shall include, in its consideration, highway safety, the width and character of the highways affected, the density of traffic thereon, the character of such traffic and the opinion and findings of the traffic authority of the municipality wherein the development is located. The Office of the State Traffic Administration may require improvements to be made by the applicant to the extent that such improvements address impacts to highway safety created by the addition of the applicant’s proposed development or activity. If the Office of the State Traffic Administration determines that such improvements, including traffic signals, pavement markings, channelization, pavement widening or other changes or traffic control devices, are required to handle traffic safely and efficiently, one hundred per cent of the cost thereof shall be borne by the person building, establishing or operating such open air theater, shopping center or other development generating large volumes of traffic, except that such cost shall not be borne by any municipal agency. The Commissioner of Transportation may issue a permit to said person to construct or install the changes required by the Office of the State Traffic Administration.

(e) Any person aggrieved by any decision of the Office of the State Traffic Administration hereunder may appeal therefrom in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183, except venue for such appeal shall be in the judicial district in which it is proposed to operate such establishment. The provisions of this section except insofar as such provisions relate to expansion shall not apply to any open air theater, shopping center or other development generating large volumes of traffic in operation on July 1, 1967.

(f) Before submitting an application for any development generating large volumes of traffic pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to the Office of the State Traffic Administration, the individual or entity submitting such application shall attend a mandatory meeting with the Office of the State Traffic Administration and other staff from the Department of Transportation. At such meeting, such individual or entity shall present the applicant’s proposed development to such department staff and receive feedback, including, but not limited to, information as to what needs to be submitted for an application to be considered complete.

History: 1967 act made provisions applicable to shopping centers and other developments generating large volumes of traffic, added provisions re percentage of cost of traffic signals, pavement markings, road widening etc. to be borne by developer and re permit to construct or install required changes and replaced exemption for developments under construction or in operation on June 5, 1951, with exemption for developments in operation on July 1, 1967; 1969 act replaced highway commissioner with commissioner of transportation; 1971 acts made provisions applicable to expansions of developments or facilities, required developer to bear 75% rather than 50% of cost of road or traffic signal changes, qualified exemption by excluding expansion operations and replaced superior court with court of common pleas; P.A. 73-136 required developer to pay 100% of cost of road or traffic signal changes; P.A. 74-183 added reference to judicial districts; P.A. 76-412 included facilities or developments of state or municipal agencies, made provisions applicable to projects “substantially affecting state highway traffic”, exempted municipal agency from payment of cost of changes and added provision re postponement of action on applications; P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with superior court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-603 replaced previous appeal provision with requirement that appeals be made in accordance with Sec. 4-183 except that venue remains in county or judicial district affected; P.A. 78-280 deleted reference to counties; P.A. 83-362 divided section into Subsecs., prohibited local building officials from issuing building or foundation permits for developments until commission issues certificates and required commission to act on certificate applications within 120 days unless additional information needed; P.A. 84-546 made technical grammatical change in Subsec. (e); P.A. 85-498 extended the provisions of Subsecs. (a) and (b) to firms, corporations or any combination of a firm, corporation, state agency or municipal agency; P.A. 90-342 added provision in Subsec. (b) authorizing injunction for failure to comply with commission’s orders and provision in Subsec. (d) requiring the commission to seek the opinion of the traffic authority of the municipality where the development is located (Revisor’s note: P.A. 88-230 and P.A. 90-98 authorized substitution of “judicial district of Hartford” for “judicial district of Hartford-New Britain” in public and special acts of the 1990 session, effective September 1, 1993); P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 11-256 amended Subsec. (a) to establish exception from certificate requirement for certain developments and to make technical changes, amended Subsec. (b) to establish procedure applicable to certain single family home building lots re provision of copy of certificate and to make technical changes, amended Subsec. (c) to require commencement of commission review prior to final approval by municipal agency and to make a technical change, and amended Subsec. (d) to authorize commission to require highway safety improvements, effective July 13, 2011; P.A. 12-132 replaced references to State Traffic Commission with references to Office of the State Traffic Administration, amended Subsec. (c) by deleting provisions re commission action on certificate applications and added Subsec. (f) re mandatory meeting before submitting application, effective July 1, 2012 (Revisor’s note: In Subsec. (b)(ii), a reference to “commission” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “office” for consistency).

See Sec. 14-311c re developed parcels of land separately owned and utilized together for a single development purpose which affects state highway traffic.

Approval by State Traffic Commission is not a condition precedent to issuance of a building permit by local authority. 144 C. 67. Cited. 176 C. 63; 180 C. 11.

Cited. 43 CA 52.

No open air theater can lawfully be built until the required certificate has been issued. 18 CS 521. The issue of adequacy of roads leading to proposed site is determined by the State Traffic Commission. 20 CS 192.

Sec. 14-311b. Traffic controls for certain parking areas and commercial establishments. The Office of the State Traffic Administration, in cooperation and agreement with local traffic authorities, may, in any parking area for twenty or more vehicles or for any commercial establishment having an exit or entrance on or abutting or adjoining any state highway, establish traffic controls by signal or device, for access to and egress from and for traffic within such parking area or commercial establishment. The traffic authority of any city, town or borough may establish similar controls for parking areas for twenty or more vehicles or for any commercial establishment having an exit or entrance on or abutting or adjoining any highway under their jurisdiction. The owner or operator of any parking area or commercial establishment where such traffic controls have been established, pursuant to this section, shall erect and maintain the necessary uniform traffic control signals or devices, which shall conform to the specifications of the manual of uniform traffic control devices established under this chapter and as approved and revised by the Office of the State Traffic Administration, provided no traffic control signal or device shall be installed, operated or maintained until a permit for such installation, operation or maintenance has been procured from the Office of the State Traffic Administration.

(1971, P.A. 600; P.A. 12-132, S. 37.)

History: (Revisor’s note: In 2005 a reference to “chapter 249” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “this chapter”); P.A. 12-132 replaced “State Traffic Commission” with “Office of the State Traffic Administration”, effective July 1, 2012.

Sec. 14-311c. Developed parcels of land separately owned and utilized together for a single development purpose which affects state highway traffic. (a) No group of persons, firms, corporations, state agencies or municipal agencies or combination thereof shall build, expand, establish or operate any open air theater, shopping center or other development generating large volumes of traffic on any group of individual parcels of land which are separately owned but are utilized together for a single development purpose, whether or not such parcels are separated by any state, local or private roadway that substantially affect state highway traffic within this state, as determined by the Office of the State Traffic Administration, until such group has procured from the Office of the State Traffic Administration a certificate that the operation thereof will not imperil the safety of the public, except that any development, including any development to be built in phases without regard to when such phases are approved by the municipal planning and zoning agency or other responsible municipal agency, that contains a total of one hundred or fewer residential units shall not be required to obtain such a certificate if such development is a residential-only development and not part of a mixed-use development containing office, retail or other such nonresidential uses, provided if any future development increases the total number of residential units to more than one hundred, and this total substantially affects state highway traffic within the state as determined by the Office of the State Traffic Administration, a certificate shall be procured from said office.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, no local building official shall issue a building or foundation permit to any such group or member thereof to build, expand, establish or operate such a development until the group or member provides to such official a copy of the certificate issued under this section by the Office of the State Traffic Administration. If the Office of the State Traffic Administration determines that any group or member has (1) started building, expanding, establishing or operating such a development without first obtaining a certificate from said office, or (2) has failed to comply with the conditions of such a certificate, it shall order the group or member to (A) cease constructing, expanding, establishing or operating the development, or (B) to comply with the conditions of the certificate within a reasonable period of time. If such group or member fails to (i) cease such work, or (ii) comply with such order within such time as specified by the Office of the State Traffic Administration, said office or the traffic authority of the municipality wherein the development is located may make an application to the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district where the development is located enjoining the construction, expansion, establishment or the operation of such development. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, for single family home building lots within a subdivision of land, for which a certificate is required and which do not have a direct exit or entrance on, or directly abut or adjoin any state highway, no local building official shall issue a certificate of occupancy to any such group or member thereof or person to occupy homes on such lots until such group, member or person provides to such official a copy of the certificate issued under this section by said office and such official confirms that the certificate conditions have been satisfied.

(c) The Office of the State Traffic Administration, to the extent practicable, shall begin its review of an application prior to final approval of the proposed activity by the municipal planning and zoning agency or other responsible municipal agency.

(d) In determining the advisability of such certification, the Office of the State Traffic Administration shall include, in its consideration, highway safety, the width and character of the highways affected, the density of traffic thereon, the character of such traffic and the opinion and findings of the traffic authority of the municipality wherein the development is located. The Office of the State Traffic Administration may require improvements to be made by the applicant to the extent that such improvements address impacts to highway safety created by the addition of the applicant’s proposed development or activity. If the Office of the State Traffic Administration determines that such improvements, including traffic signals, pavement markings, channelization, pavement widening or other changes or traffic control devices, are required to handle traffic safely and efficiently, one hundred per cent of the cost thereof shall be borne by the group building, establishing or operating such open air theater, shopping center or other development generating large volumes of traffic, except that such cost shall not be borne by any municipal agency. The Commissioner of Transportation may issue a permit to said group to construct or install the changes required by the Office of the State Traffic Administration, in consultation with the local traffic authority.

(e) Any group aggrieved by any decision of the Office of the State Traffic Administration hereunder may appeal therefrom in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183, except venue for such appeal shall be in the judicial district in which it is proposed to operate such establishment. The provisions of this section except insofar as such provisions relate to expansion shall not apply to any open air theater, shopping center or other development generating large volumes of traffic which has received all necessary permits, variances, exceptions and approvals from the municipal zoning commission, planning commission, combined planning and zoning commission and zoning board of appeals in which such development is located prior to or on July 1, 1985, or to any such development which is in operation on that date.

History: P.A. 90-342 added provision in Subsec. (b) authorizing injunction for failure to comply with commission’s orders and provision in Subsec. (d) requiring the commission to seek the opinion of the traffic authority of the municipality where the development is located (Revisor’s note: P.A. 88-230 and P.A. 90-98 authorized substitution of “judicial district of Hartford” for “judicial district of Hartford-New Britain” in public and special acts of the 1990 session, effective September 1, 1993); P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 11-256 amended Subsec. (a) to establish exception from certificate requirement for certain developments and to make technical changes, amended Subsec. (b) to establish procedure applicable to certain single family home building lots re provision of copy of certificate and to make technical changes, amended Subsec. (c) to require commencement of commission review prior to final approval by municipal agency and to make technical changes, and amended Subsec. (d) to authorize commission to require highway safety improvements, effective July 13, 2011; P.A. 12-132 replaced references to State Traffic Commission with references to Office of the State Traffic Administration and amended Subsec. (c) by deleting provisions re commission action on certificate applications, effective July 1, 2012.

See Sec. 14-311 re open air theaters, shopping centers and certain other developments affecting state highway traffic.

Sec. 14-311d. Economic development project applications submitted to Commissioner of Transportation or Office of the State Traffic Administration. Notwithstanding any provision of title 13b or this title, in all matters in which a formal petition, application or request for a permit is required to be submitted to the Commissioner of Transportation or the Office of the State Traffic Administration, and such petition, application or request is in connection with an economic development project, the commissioner or office shall, not later than sixty days after the date on which the commissioner or office receives a completed petition, application or request, make a final determination whether to approve such completed petition, application or request. The commissioner or office shall notify the petitioner, applicant or requestor of such final determination. In the event that the commissioner or office fails to make a final determination not later than sixty days after the date on which the commissioner or office received such completed petition, application or request, such completed petition, application or request shall be deemed approved.

Sec. 14-312. Regulations. The traffic authority shall have power to make regulations necessary to make effective the provisions of this chapter, and may make and enforce temporary regulations to cover emergencies and special conditions.

Sec. 14-313. Appeal. Any person aggrieved by any order or regulation made by any traffic authority under the provisions of this chapter, relating to the establishment of through streets, the making of safety zones, the establishment of parking restrictions or the location of loading and unloading zones, or by the performance of any act pursuant to any provision of this chapter, may take an appeal therefrom to the court of common council or to the board of aldermen of the city, to the town council or board of selectmen of the town, or to the warden and burgesses of the borough, wherein such traffic authority is located, or to the superior court for the judicial district in which it is located. Such appeal shall be to the next session of such court or board which will allow sufficient time for the service of the notice required herein. A written notice of such appeal, addressed to such traffic authority, shall be deposited with, or forwarded by registered or certified mail to, such traffic authority at least ten days before the return day thereof. Upon such hearing, such court or board shall determine whether the order or regulation appealed from is reasonable, and shall thereupon sustain or revoke such order or regulation.

Sec. 14-314. Penalties. Any person, firm or corporation failing to comply with any order made pursuant to any provision of this chapter shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days or both, and shall be subject to the provisions of section 14-111. Any person, firm or corporation failing to comply with any traffic control signal, sign, marking or other device placed and maintained upon the highway, or with any regulation adopted pursuant to any provision of this chapter, by the Office of the State Traffic Administration or the traffic authority of any city, town or borough shall be deemed to have committed an infraction, if no other penalty is provided by law. Traveling at a greater rate of speed than is reasonable as provided in section 14-218a shall not be deemed to be a failure to comply with the provisions of this section but shall be deemed to be the commission of an infraction within the provisions of said section 14-218a.

History: 1967 act deleted reference to violations of “any provision of this chapter” and added additional $50 maximum penalty for failure to comply with signals, markings, etc.; P.A. 75-577 replaced provision for $50 maximum fine with statement that violation is an infraction and moved failure to comply with regulations from $100 penalty provision to infraction provision; P.A. 76-381 added provision re traveling at greater than reasonable speed; P.A. 90-342 increased penalty for violations of the chapter from $100 to $5,000; P.A. 12-132 replaced “State Traffic Commission” with “Office of the State Traffic Administration”, effective July 1, 2012.

Cited. 131 C. 167.

Cited. 43 CA 52. Section does not provide state with method of charging the driving public with an infraction for failing to obey a warning sign; regulations of Connecticut state agencies delineate between regulatory signs, warning signs and guide signs, and driver’s failure to follow a warning sign’s advice does not give rise to an infraction with which driver may be cited. 54 CA 98.

Sec. 14-314b. Injury to or removal of traffic control devices, signs or lights. Any person who, without lawful authority, attempts to or in fact alters, defaces, injures, knocks down or removes any official traffic control device, signal light, railroad sign, portable warning light or barricade, or any other sign or light or any part thereof, shall be guilty of a class D misdemeanor.

(1971, P.A. 690, S. 1; P.A. 12-80, S. 65.)

History: P.A. 12-80 replaced penalty of a fine of not more than $100 or imprisonment of not more than 30 days or both with a class D misdemeanor.

Sec. 14-314c. Erection of signs to warn operators of presence of deaf persons. Regulations. (a) The Office of the State Traffic Administration, on any state highway, or a local traffic authority, on any highway under its control, shall, upon receipt of an application on behalf of any person under the age of eighteen who is deaf, as certified by a physician, erect one or more signs in the person’s neighborhood to warn motor vehicle operators of the presence of the deaf person.

(b) The Office of the State Traffic Administration may adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to carry out the purposes of this section.

Sec. 14-314d. Erection of signs stating the requirement of the use of signal lights when changing lanes. The Office of the State Traffic Administration, on any state highway, or a local traffic authority, on any highway under its control, may, within available appropriations, designate locations at which signs bearing the words “STATE LAW REQUIRES USE OF SIGNAL LIGHTS WHEN CHANGING LANES” may be erected.

PART II

STREET AND HIGHWAY SAFETY AND ACCIDENT PREVENTION

Sec. 14-315. Duties of Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection re street and highway safety and accident prevention. The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall study the problems of street and highway safety, shall act as the central coordinating agency of state departments, organizations and instrumentalities engaged in the elimination of motor vehicle accidents; shall study all phases of the problem of obtaining better observance and uniform enforcement of the laws for the regulation of highway travel and motor vehicle operation; shall study methods of safety control and engineering in this and other states with a view to improvement in such methods in this state; shall study problems of safety as they affect home, farm and school accidents; shall act as the central coordinating agency of the state in the planning and execution of safety programs and campaigns for the prevention of accidents and the loss of manpower and may conduct educational programs and campaigns relating to industrial safety; shall advise with and assist the Commissioner of Transportation and other state department heads in the accomplishment of the purposes stated herein.